Method for assembling tennis bracelets and necklaces

ABSTRACT

A bracelet or necklace link and method for facilitating the assembling of tennis bracelets (gold links set with diamonds), other bracelets and necklaces. A wire or rail or cable is used to assemble the links to form a bracelet or necklace. In this manner, the links do not need to be connected one by one, and soldered one by one, but rather they are threaded together on a wire that runs through openings in the links. The soldering is performed only at the beginning and end of the assembling of the bracelet or necklace, at the first and last links, with no need to solder each and every link at the joint.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in the field of jewelry bracelets and necklaces and methods for making jewelry, specifically, methods for making bracelets and necklaces with a specific emphasis on tennis bracelets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the prior art, the assembly of tennis bracelets is a long process. First links are fashioned so that each link has a male portion and a female portion to enable the connection to one another. After assembling the links to make a bracelet or necklace, they must be soldered one by one at a joint formed by the male and female portions. This is a difficult and time consuming process because each soldered joint is very small and there are a large number of these joints in a typical bracelet or necklace, each of which must be soldered separately. The resulting product does not always turn out straight or accurate due to the fact that the links are fitted one by one, and then each soldered separately at the joint.

There are three common connection techniques for making bracelets and necklaces known as loop connection, groove/tongue connection and hinge connection. A typical loop connection link is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which male portion 11 fits into female portion 13. After soldering, a set of links forming a bracelet portion is shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, a typical tongue/groove connection link is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in which male portion 15 fits into female portion 17. After soldering, a set of links forming a bracelet portion is shown in FIG. 6. A typical hinge connection link is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 in which male portion 19 fits into female portion 21. After soldering, a set of links forming a bracelet portion is shown in FIG. 9.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a bracelet or necklace link and method for facilitating the assembling of tennis bracelets (gold links set with diamonds), other bracelets and necklaces, using a new, easier and time saving method using the invented link. The invention uses a wire or rail or cable to assemble the links to form a bracelet or necklace. Unlike the prior art, the links do not need additional molding or material to produce the male and female portions which are no longer needed. In this manner, the invented link and method saves time and costs, because the links do not need to be connected one by one, and soldered one by one, but rather they are threaded together on a wire that runs through openings in the links. The soldering is performed only at the beginning and end of the assembling of the bracelet or necklace, at the first and last links, with no need to solder each and every link at the joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a link for a loop connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective view of a link for a loop connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 3 is a top side perspective view of a portion showing a set of connected links of a loop connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a link for a groove/tongue connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 5 is a top side perspective view of a link for a groove/tongue connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 6 is a top side perspective view of a portion showing a set of connected links of a groove/tongue connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a link for a hinge connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 8 is a top side perspective view of a link for a hinge connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 9 is a top side perspective view of a portion showing a set of connected links of a hinge connection bracelet or necklace.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a single link according to the invention.

FIG. 11 is a front elevation view thereof.

FIG. 12 is a first side elevation view thereof.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view thereof.

FIG. 14 is second side cut-away elevation view thereof.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view thereof.

FIG. 16 is a top side perspective view of a portion showing a set of connected links of a cable connection bracelet or necklace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 10, a single link according to the present invention contains a main body portion 110 and a setting 112 for a stone 114. Of course, it should be recognized that body portion 110 can be almost any shape, and neither the setting nor the stone form part of the invention, although such elements typically would be present in a tennis bracelet or other bracelet which includes diamonds or other stones. Typically, all of the links used in a particular bracelet will be identically shaped, but the invention also contemplates using links not all of which are identically shaped. Also shown in FIG. 10 is cable or wire 116 a and 116 b. FIGS. 11 and 12 show the same elements as FIG. 10 from different viewpoints. Also shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are openings 118 a and 118 b, which are sized to receive cable or wire 116 a and 116 b. Although the figures illustrate a relatively snug fit between the cable or wire and the openings, the relative snugness or looseness of the fit may vary, depending upon the designer of the jewelry piece. FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 show additional views of the link and cable/wire combination, and are provided to show the simplicity of the link without needing male or female portions to connect to adjacent links. FIG. 16 shows a portion of a bracelet or necklace formed using a set of links connected by a cable or wire according to the present invention.

In order to construct a bracelet or necklace using the invented links, main body portion 110 is molded or cast to a desired shape. At least two holes 118 a and 118 b are drilled in the body portion, which holes are large enough to receive a wire or cable of the desired diameter. The wire or cable may be made of any flexible material, including spun gold or the like. Each link is threaded onto respective cable or wires, which pass through corresponding holes 118 a and 118 b in the link. After the desired number of links have been threaded onto the cable or wire pair, preferably the hole/wire combination pair of the first and last links have solder applied. In this manner all of the links are held in place, even though solder has been applied to only two of the links. In order to complete the bracelet or necklace, suitable clasps are attached. The specifics of such clasps or method of attachment are not necessary for an understanding of the invention.

The resulting product will always look straight and accurate, because the links are evenly placed and fitted to the wire through the holes in each link. More than two holes can be provided for additional wires or cables to produce a slightly different look without departing from the invention. 

1. A plurality of links for use in a jewelry bracelet or necklace, each link comprising: at least two holes each adapted to receive a flexible cable or wire.
 2. The links defined by claim 1 wherein each of said links has an identical shape.
 3. A bracelet or necklace including a plurality of links, each link comprising: at least two holes each adapted to receive a flexible cable or wire.
 4. The bracelet defined by claim 3 wherein each of said links has an identical shape.
 5. A method for making a jewelry bracelet or necklace comprising: a) molding or casting a plurality of links; b) drilling at least two holes in each link; c) threading a wire or cable through each of the at least two holes to form a complete bracelet or necklace; d) affixing a first link and a last link to the wire or cable by applying solder.
 6. The method defined by claim 5 wherein each of said links is identically shaped. 